Rv wastewater transport tank

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a system and apparatus to fill, transport and discharge up to 50 or more gallons of RV black water and/or grey water (sewage) in the bed of a pickup truck/RV tow vehicle without the use of wheels or attaching to the rear of the tow vehicle. Innovation is accomplished through the design of the tank which incorporates a main body with a bottom mounted inlet/outlet port, and uniquely designed drain hose management structure comprising a friction grip trough and locking hose rest, which facilitate the use of a standard 2′ RV Compartment hose to fill or drain the tank. Further innovation is achieved by the system of keeping the tank stationary in the vehicle thus eliminating the lifting and pulling of a filled tank.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent is cross-referenced to provisional application No. 63/041,332 Filing Date 19 Jun. 2020. First Named Inventor Michael Lewis Mann Customer Number 172095

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

-   System, Methods and Apparatus for a Truck Carry RV Waste Water Tank

The present invention is in the field of Recreational Vehicle (RV) waste water (sewage or also referred to as black water and/or grey water) transport and discharge, and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus to fill, transport and discharge RV waste water.

Discussion of the State of the Art

Portable RV waste water tanks of different descriptions and manufacture are known in the art. They are commonly referred to as tote, tote tank, holding tank, portable waste transport tank or other similar name. There are in the present inventor's opinion shortcomings that give opportunity to improve the utility of such tanks.

The prevailing practice among RV'ers, when transporting waste water within a campground, is to utilize one of the above described portable tanks. These tanks are pulled by hand or attached to the bumper of a tow vehicle and towed to the campground's dump station. Portable waste water tanks for RVs are limited in capacity to typically 35 gallons or less weighing up to 290+/− pounds when full, which is practically the maximum capacity/weight that can be managed by an individual utilizing the process prescribed in the current art. Limited capacity is a significant inconvenience because more frequent trips are required to remove a given amount of waste water. When currently available tanks are attached to a tow vehicle they are awkward to manage because they necessarily have small wheels that are problematic on any terrain that is not smooth. They require the driver to proceed at slow speed to prevent the small “trailer” from bouncing or tipping over or otherwise damaged due to the combination of high weight and relatively small wheels while in tow. Generally, this is a poor solution even when a dump station is available for use.

Another problem not addressed by the current art is the disposal of RV waste water when campers overnight in locations like parking lots and government lands. Often, dump stations are not conveniently available. When RV'ers dry camp or boon dock, the prevailing art provides no waste water transport system that will easily manage up to fifty or more gallons of waste water over highway distances with ease. One must tow their entire camper to a dump station to empty the holding tanks legally and without polluting the environment.

Therefore, what is clearly needed is a sewage transport tank that solves the above limitations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor asserts that what is needed is a means of transporting RV waste water from an RV to an approved (either nearby or distant) dump station and that eliminates the restrictions of lifting or pulling a waste water tank with a system that provides for the tank to be placed and remain in the bed of the truck or tow vehicle and is capable of transporting greater capacities than what is currently offered. This system will utilize the design of the tank in a process which incorporates a macerator pump and other required smaller parts which are available from third party sources to lift the waste water from the RV waste water discharge point to the truck carry waste water transport tank. The process and apparatus will allow the user to change connections and parts alternating from the process of filling the tank, to storing the tank, to transporting the tank to draining the tank with easy twist on connections. The systems processes are accomplished without the need of wheels or to remove the tank from the tow vehicle except for storage. Further, the design capacity of the tank shall be up to 50 gallons or more and capable of transporting up to 400 pounds or more of RV waste water. Whether RV'ing in a campground without sewer hookup, dry camping, or boon docking, the advantage and benefit of the current invention to easily transport 50 or more gallons of RV waste water to a nearby town or location with dump station facilities will be apparent to one knowledgeable in the field of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like components, and:

FIG. 1A is a 3D perspective view and FIG. 1B is a 1 dimensional exploded view of an example of a RV waste water transport tank that represents a preferred embodiment of the current invention.

FIG. 2 is a dimensioned schematic diagram including several views of a preferred embodiment of the current invention.

FIG. 3 is a 3D view showing the tank body with handles and assembled third party parts comprising a spin fitting, threaded lug fitting, hose and cap. Also shown are the handles, and vent.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the tank body with the hose cap on the hose in the resting position in the locking hose rest.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the trough channel with hose and hose cap attached.

FIG. 6 shows the same perspective as FIG. 5 without the hose and cap. This view details the locking slots that prevent the hose from rotating.

FIG. 7 Schematic Top view and side view RV waste water transport tank in transport configuration.

FIG. 8 Schematic diagram shows tank filling configuration, top and side views.

FIG. 9 Schematic diagram shows tank draining configuration, top and side views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor provides a unique process and apparatus for a truck carry, tank system which enables the user to transport RV waste water (gray water and black water) in greater volumes than currently possible in the art and to fill and discharge the tank with minimal effort and without tools. The new system incorporates the use of an RV macerator pump to fill the tank and a unique trough and upper hose end locking support built into the tank to facilitate changing connections and thusly the functions of the system components. The illustrated example is a molded plastic assembly, although the invention is not limited as to materials or techniques of fabrication.

The present invention is described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 1A, In this diagram, a 3D perspective view of the current invention is shown. The RV waste water transport system includes a tank body 100. The tank body 100 has a vent 101 connecting the tank body to the atmosphere. It relieves pressure while the tank body 100 is being filled and relieves vacuum created when the tank body 100 is being drained. The tank body 100 might have baffles (not shown) to prevent waste water from sloshing or shifting of contents and preventing the tank body from shifting or tipping while in transit. A spin fitting 102 is permanently attached to the base of the tank body 100 to which is attached a threaded lug fitting 103 which together constitute the inlet/outlet port of the tank body 100. The lower end 104 a of the 2′ by 3″ RV hose 104 is permanently (except for maintenance or cleaning) attached to the lug fitting 103 with the tube 104 resting in the trough 601 and the other (upper) end 104 b resting in the locking hose rest 602. A hose cap 105 is attached to the end of the tube 104 b. This illustration depicts the system when the tank is in transit or storage mode.

Referring to FIG. 7 the RV waste water transport tank is retained continually in the bed of the tow vehicle 701 for the duration of the camping trip. In the preferred application, the tank is placed against the left wheel well 702 of the tow vehicle 701. This places the tank nearest to the camper sewage discharge port when the tow vehicle 701 is backed to the camper at a campground. When arriving at a campground dump station 901, the tank will be in the optimal position to safely discharge.

FIG. 8 shows the connection from the attached sewer hose adapter 802 to the macerator pump with a dedicated garden 804 hose attached. When the macerator pump 805 is activated, first processing the black tank and then the gray tank, the sewage transport tank body 100 is filled. The operator observes the fill level scale 603 while also observing the level of fluid in the tank body 100 through the translucent tank body walls in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 Illustrates a top and side view as the system is configured to drain into a dump station 901. The connected short hose 104 and connected long RV sewer hose 902 in this illustration have been removed from the transport and storage configuration. This assembly is resting across the tow vehicle tail gate to allow the tank body 100 contents to flow into the dump station 901.

Prior designs connect directly to the RV sewer discharge port at an elevation below the discharge point and utilize gravity to fill the tank. Using the current invention to remove waste water from an RV, a macerator pump must be connected to the sewage discharge port of the RV. Utilizing the macerator pump, the sewage can be lifted to the bed of the truck which is generally higher than the RV sewage discharge port. Aside from the unique design of the tank body the benefits of the invention are achieved with ready available aftermarket parts, including the hose fitting, 2′ hose, hose adapter, garden waste hose, and macerator pump. The current invention accomplishes all of it's advantages because of the unique design of the tank body. The advantage to the current invention is that the tank body is maintained in the bed of the tow with the capability to accept up to fifty gallons RV waste water or more. Advantage is also achieved by utilizing the unique and innovative design of the tank body including the trough 601 locking hose rest 602. The tank body trough is designed and sized to provide a snug and secure cavity to accommodate the flexible 2′ RV sewer hose. The hose end 104 b is further stabilized and secured by the locking hose rest 602. The locking hose rest 602 limits the twisting of the upper hose end 104 b by securing or “locking” the finger tabs provided on the upper hose end 104 b. This facilitates the attachment and removal of the RV hose adapter 802 and the hose cap 105 and the full length RV sewer hose 902 when used at the dump station 901.

By removing the standard twist lock hose adapter 802 and attaching a twist lock cap 105 the tow vehicle 701 is now configured to transport the filled tank. For discharging the sewage from the tank body 100, the hose cap 105 is removed and a full size/length RV sewage hose 902 is attached to extend the short sewer hose 104. This hose configuration is then removed from the locking rest 602 at the top of the tank, invoking gravity to move the contents of the tank into a sewer dump station 901.

Stability of the waste water transport tank while the tank is being transported is achieved by the presence of baffles (not shown) inside the tank body 100 and further by the tapered side walls of the tank body which serve to lower the center of gravity of the tank body 100. Further stability is achieved by securing the tank handles 104 to the bed of the tow vehicle by straps or ropes.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with re1ference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A process for transporting RV waste water comprising steps;
 1. Place the tank body into the bed of the tow vehicle for the duration of the camping trip;
 2. Attach a macerator pump to the RV connecting to a standard 3″×2′ sewer compartment hose with a garden hose and sewer hose adapter;
 3. Run the said macerator pump to transfer up to 50 gallons or more of RV waste water to the said tank body;
 4. Remove the said sewer hose adapter and replace with a cap;
 5. Transport RV waste water to a dump station;
 6. Remove said cap and attach a standard RV sewer (typically 10′ to 20′ in length) hose to the said 3″×2′ standard sewer compartment hose placing the opposing end into the said dump station;
 7. Lower the assembled said sewer hoses from the locking hose rest draining the said tank body to complete the process. 